A surname or family name is a name added to a given name. In many cases, a surname is a family name and many dictionaries define "surname" as a synonym of "family name". In the western hemisphere, it is commonly synonymous with last name because it is usually placed at the end of a person's given name.
In most Spanish-speaking and Portuguese-speaking countries, two or more last names (or surnames) may be used. In China, Hungary, Japan, Korea, Madagascar, Taiwan, Vietnam, and parts of India, the family name is placed before a person's given name.
The style of having both a family name (surname) and a given name (forename) is far from universal. In many countries, it is common for ordinary people to have only one name or mononym.
The concept of a "surname" is a relatively recent historical development, evolving from a medieval naming practice called a "byname". Based on an individual's occupation or area of residence, a byname would be used in situations where more than one person had the same name.
Kerouac, yeah, Kerouac
His words, the words, so many words just
All brothers of the same horn
Sisters of the saxophone
Notes, music, words, a melody
A quote, a figure eight, a figure
If you listen close to the drummer
It's like a mirror and you're invisible
Like you're in a back seat
No handles on the doors
Just a beautiful driver up front
She knows where she's going
Kerouac, the observation machine
Caressing the most passing of scenes
With photographic love
Passionate photographic love
Vulnerable as anyone knew
His memories pull shades up and down
Doors are not done, telegrams arrive
Every morning, something extra [Incomprehensible]
Remembering everything
Like a snatch of melody
A drumbeat remembering, mythologizing
So fast, all the time moving
The words, the words are drumsticks
Pounding out drum beats
Like a monk, like a monk, melody
With mistakes, yeah, mistakes and sudden inspirations
Edges, corners, explosions, convections
All fast through a slow motion landscape